Identification of attractant and repellent plants to coffee berry borer, Hypothenemus hampei

Abstract

AbstractColombia is one of the world's largest producers of coffee [Coffea arabica L. (Rubiaceae)]. The coffee berry borer (CBB), Hypothenemus hampei (Ferrari) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is the main pest of coffee. This insect is controlled through an integrated pest management program that includes cultural, biological, and chemical control strategies. Despite research seeking CBB attractants and repellents, these potential management tools have not been successfully incorporated into control programs. This work proposes the use of plant functional diversity for CBB management, for which a number of plants related to coffee and weeds were selected. CBB preference to these plants was determined by olfactometry and volatile compounds emitted by them were identified. Field trials were performed to test CBB preference under field conditions. These trials determined the olfactory preference of CBB to coffee berries accompanied by material of the plants Crotalaria micans Link (Fabaceae), Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae), Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae), Artemisia vulgaris L., Calendula officinalis L., Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni, and Emilia sonchifolia (L.) DC. (all four Asteraceae). Under laboratory conditions N. tabacum, L. camara, and C. officinalis were identified as repellents for CBB in olfactometer assays, whereas E. sonchifolia functioned as attractant. Controlled field trials corroborated CBB repellency of N. tabacum and L. camara; both release volatile sesquiterpenes. Selected candidate attractants included E. sonchifolia plants, for showing attraction in the laboratory. The potential use of these plants in agroecological management of coffee plantations is discussed.